The fireworks in Florida’s 73-72 upset loss to Iowa on Sunday weren’t limited to the court.
Tensions boiled over in the first half of the Round of 32 clash in the NCAA tournament, when Hawkeyes forward Alvaro Folgueiras and Gators forward Alex Condon tussled on the floor over possession of the ball. An irate Todd Golden fumed after both players were assessed a technical, with the Florida coach unleashing a profanity-laden reaction on the sideline.
Warning: Explicit language
“Are you f–king kidding me? You mother f–ker, man,” Golden said, as captured in a video on X.
With Iowa leading top-seed Florida 19-13, Folgueiras and Condon tried to corral a loose ball with 8:35 remaining in the opening half, with the players ultimately scuffling on the floor.
While on the court, it appeared Folgueiras took a swing at his Florida opponent, prompting players and coaches from both squads to invade the floor as referees tried to diffuse the squabble.
Golden was also seen sparring with Iowa coach Ben McCollum, as captured on social media.
Folgueiras, who hit the game-winner with 3.9 remaining in the second half, said he “didn’t throw any kind of punch.”
“It was just March Madness, everyone wants to win so bad and they’re a tough team. It’s just something that sometimes happens in basketball, but I have to make sure my intentions are the right ones,” he said afterward.
Golden, who is just one season removed from Florida’s national title run, said postgame he was informed Folgueiras “threw a punch, but it didn’t connect so it didn’t go any higher than a Flagrant 1.”
“I’m not exactly sure what this means. I still don’t understand why Condo got a technical. They were both fighting for the ball equally, Condo was just stronger and pulled him down to the floor. But they were both grabbing the ball. It was a confusing play and I’m not really sure how that landed on that result,” he said, according to Sports Illustrated.
Ninth-seed Iowa will take on No. 4 Nebraska Thursday in the Sweet Sixteen.
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